Jenkins Farm Market to close Dec. 28

After being in business for more than 40 years, local community staple Jenkins Farm Market and Deli will close Dec. 28.

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By Jeff ColeThe Evening Tribune

The Evening Tribune

By Jeff ColeThe Evening Tribune

Posted Dec. 18, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Updated Dec 18, 2013 at 2:07 PM

By Jeff ColeThe Evening Tribune

Posted Dec. 18, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Updated Dec 18, 2013 at 2:07 PM

Arkport

After being in business for more than 40 years, local community staple Jenkins Farm Market and Deli will close Dec. 28.

Keith Jenkins, who co-owns the business with his wife, Fay, said he and Fay need to be more involved in their trucking business, Jenkins Farm Trucking, out of Leesburg, Fla. He said they had tried for three years to find a buyer for Jenkins Farm, but were unsuccessful.

"We really would have liked to have sold the place," Keith said.

According to its Facebook page, Jenkins Farms, 8637 Route 36 in Arkport, is looking to liquidate all of its inventory by the end of next week and encourages customers to come early for the best selection of products. The bakery will continue taking regular Christmas orders through Christmas Eve, the page states.

Jenkins Farm's products include vegetables, flowers, herbs, bulk foods, baked goods, deli items and Christmas trees, wreaths, garland and other gifts. The business also catered and held chicken and ribs barbecues on Saturdays from May through October.

Keith's father, Don, started the business in 1972 to sell locally grown vegetables. In that same year, according to Jenkins' Farm's website, Keith started working the farm with his father around age 12. Not too longer after, the website states, Keith's would-be-bride, Fay, "joined the team."

"She started working there in high school," Keith recalled, noting that was how they met.

The owners thanked their loyal customers on Facebook, saying, "We are grateful for your patronage over the years that has made our small little business a staple in the community and will miss the relationships that we have developed with you along the way."